Conclusion

The Blue Mustang has been surrounded by controversy even before its erection at the Denver International Airport in 2008.  The sculpture was chronically behind schedule, desperately over budget, and the death of Luis Jimenez has led many to believe that the horse is cursed. Finally, after its erection many viewers found the Blue Mustang to be aesthetically unpleasant.

In the discussions that emerge from controversial public art, it is sometimes necessary to consider the viewpoint of the artist who created the piece.  There are certain aspects of the Blue Mustang, free from the context of the artist’s intentions, that some viewers may find inappropriate.  For example, the “demonic” red eyes of the sculpture become a symbol of love once the viewer understands that they were meant as a memorial to the artist’s father.  

Despite the controversy stirred by its presence at the Denver International Airport, the Blue Mustang has accomplished the task of starting a debate about public art.  Moving far beyond merely disliking or admiring the Blue Mustang, this debate has evolved into a discussion about how art functions in public spaces and what that art communicates about the city and people of Denver.  

The questions raised through the controversy surrounding the Blue Mustang can easily be applied to the Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park.  Will the apparent depiction of Native American subjugation remain if the viewer were to understand the artist’s intentions?  Does the fountain provide an appropriate representation of Kalamazoo’s past?